Method and apparatus for receiving dual band signals from an orbital location using an outdoor unit with a subreflector and additional antenna feed

• US 20080120653A1
• Filed: 11/21/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DIRECTV, LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Stroes, Gustave, Loner, Patrick J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,860,453 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/70
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/13 the primary radiating source being a single radiating element, e.g. a dipole, a slot, a waveguide termination H01Q19/15 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/19 comprising one main concave reflecting surface associated with an auxiliary reflecting surface
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 19/192 with dual offset reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 5/45 using two or more feeds in association with a common reflecting, diffracting or refracting device
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18515 Transmission equipment in satellites or space-based relays
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/20 Adaptations for transmission via a GHz frequency band, e.g. via satellite

Abstract

A satellite system 10 having a first satellite 14 at a first orbital slot B has a first transponder 32 and a second generating a first downlink signal 44B at a first frequency and a second downlink signal 44C at a second frequency. An outdoor unit is directed toward the first satellite 14 and includes a support structure, a reflector 64 coupled to the support structure and reflecting the first downlink signal and the second downlink signal. A first feed 66B is coupled to the support structure and receives the first downlink signal. A second feed 70A is coupled to the support structure and receives the second downlink signal. A secondary reflector 72 reflects the second downlink signal to the second feed 70.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first satellite at a first orbital slot having a first transponder generating a first downlink signal at a first frequency and a second downlink signal at a second frequency;

an outdoor unit coupled to the out comprising, a support structure;

a reflector coupled to the support structure and reflecting the first downlink signal and the second downlink signal;

a first feed coupled to the support structure receiving the first downlink signal;

a second feed coupled to support structure receiving the second downlink signal; and

a secondary reflector reflecting the second downlink signal to the second feed.

2. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first downlink signal comprises a video signal.

3. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the second downlink signal comprises a video signal.

4. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first downlink signal and the second downlink signal comprises a digital video signal.

5. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first downlink signal or second downlink signal comprises a high-definition digital video signal.

6. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first downlink signal comprises a digital video signal and the second downlink signal comprises a high-definition digital video signal.

7. A system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a second satellite at a second orbital slot having a third transponder generating a third downlink signal, said reflector reflecting the third downlink signal and wherein the outdoor unit comprises a third feed coupled to the support structure for receiving the third downlink signal.

8. A system as recited in claim 7 wherein the third downlink signal comprises a Ka band signal.

9. A system as recited in claim 7 further comprising a third satellite at a third orbital slot having a fourth transponder generating a fourth downlink signal, said reflector reflecting the fourth downlink signal and wherein the outdoor unit comprises a fourth feed coupled to the support structure for receiving the fourth downlink signal.

10. A system as recited in claim 9 wherein the fourth downlink signal comprises a Ka band signal.

11. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first downlink signal comprises a Ku band signal and the second downlink signal comprises a Ka band signal.

12. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises a reflector support, an extension and a feed support, said second feed coupled to said extension portion.

13. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary reflector is coupled to the feed support.

14. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary reflector is coupled to the extension portion.

15. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary reflector is concave.

16. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary reflector is convex.

17. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary reflector is coupled around the first feed.

19. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first downlink signal comprises a Ku band signal and the second downlink signal comprises a Ka band signal.

20. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises a reflector support, an extension and a feed support, said second feed coupled to said extension portion.

21. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary reflector is coupled to the feed support.

22. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary reflector is coupled to the extension portion.

23. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary reflector is concave.

24. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary reflector is convex.

25. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary reflector is coupled around the first feed.

27. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the first downlink signal comprises a Ku band signal and the second downlink signal comprises a Ka band signal.

28. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the support structure comprises a reflector support, an extension and a feed support, said second feed coupled to said extension portion.

29. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary reflector is coupled to the feed support.

30. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary reflector is coupled to the extension portion.

31. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary reflector is concave.

32. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary reflector is convex.

33. A system as recited in claim 1 wherein the secondary reflector is coupled around the first feed.

35. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the first downlink signal comprises a Ku band signal and the second downlink signal comprises a Ka band signal.

36. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein coupling a second reflector comprises coupling a convex reflector.

37. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein coupling a second reflector comprises coupling a concave reflector.

38. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein coupling a second reflector comprises coupling a concave reflects about the first feed.

18. An outdoor unit comprising:

a support structure;

a reflector coupled to the support structure and reflecting a first downlink signal from a first satellite and a second downlink signal from the first satellite;

a first feed coupled to the support structure receiving the first downlink signal;

a second feed coupled to support structure receiving the second downlink signal; and

a secondary reflector reflecting the second downlink signal to the second feed.

26. An outdoor unit comprising:

a support structure;

a first reflector coupled to the support structure and reflecting a first downlink signal from a first satellite along an axis, said first reflector reflecting a second downlink signal from the first satellite along the axis;

a first feed coupled to the support structure along the axis receiving the first downlink signal;

a second reflector coupled to the support structure not along the axis reflecting spillover from the second downlink signal; and

a second feed coupled to support structure receiving spillover from the second downlink signal.

34. A method of connecting an outdoor unit having a support structure, a first reflector coupled to the support structure reflecting a first downlink signal to a first feed comprising:

coupling a second feed to the support structure; and

coupling a second reflector to a support structure to reflect spillover from the second satellite signal feed to the second feed.